While the nausea is away, the pregnant woman will play.

October has shined good health upon our family and we have celebrated by playing.

We finally checked out the canals in Venice.   I have been wanting to see these for years, but with the never-ending list of things to do in Los Angeles, we finally made it there.  We were very impressed with the beautiful homes, clear water, quaint boats, and cute duckies.  It was such a serene and peaceful area, until we arrived, of course, with our two rambunctious boys running over bridges and chasing ducks and geese.

The next weekend we headed to Vegas to spend time with my parents and see best friends.  My parents completely spoiled us by taking us out for dinner for Mark's birthday, babysitting for us to go to the temple, letting us host a barbecue at their home with our friends, and taking us to the pumpkin patch. 

Russell could not be more in love with Grandma.  She put him to sleep every night and for every nap.

At the pumpkin patch.  Our kids could have moved into the petting zoo, and been completely happy.

Russ loved hugging the rabbits

The following weekend we were visited by Britt, Aaron and their adorable kids.  We spent the morning showing them the canals, and all the crazy sights Venice Beach has to offer.

checking out some street performers

The kids were most impressed with this pipe.  They could have played on it all day.

We then headed to Malibu Creek for a night of camping.  It was great fun.

Here are the kids enjoying Mark's birthday cupcakes.

Early morning in the tent

We also finally made it to Leo Carillo, another spot we have been meaning to visit for years. I was as excited as could be to check out the tide pools and show them to the boys.

We saw and touched many anemones, sea stars and crabs.

Russ thought touching the anemones was so "tickly".

Lukey loved touching everything as well.

Mark

Bekah copying Mark

This last weekend we were visited by my parents who needed a good Southern California vacation.  We spent most of the day Friday at the Arboretum and Botanic Gardens. They were amazingly beautiful.

Grandma and Grandpa surprised the boys with headlamps.  What an exciting gift. Russell did not take his off all day.

Lukey has a special place in his heart for his "Papa".  He must have said his name a thousand times over the weekend.  This is them laughing in each other's faces.

Of course the kids could not resist chasing the ducks, geese and peacocks all over the gardens.

We also spent a day with them in Solvang- a Danish tourist town near Santa Barbara- and at night we left the kids at home with a sitter and went to the Griffith Park Observatory. We walked around the beautiful grounds, checked out the city views and stars, looked through a telescope at Jupiter, and watched a fascinating show in the planetarium.

 

One Saturday afternoon when we were all feeling incredibly lazy Mark forced us to get our bootys to the store, buy some ingredients, and have a Halloween party.  I was tired and less than enthusiastic at first, but we ended up having a great time, and I was glad he pushed it.

We made eyeballs, bones, a witches house and carved Russell's pumpkin.

A plate of our edible eyeballs

bones, Russell's pumpkin. He insisted that his pumpkin have a "spooky" face. 

Mark and I had never heard him use the word before, so we thought it was pretty cute.

Russell wanted to be a pirate for Halloween, and was at our church party, but on Halloween day he insisted on trick-or-treating in his Woody costume.  It was only fitting to then dress Lukey up as Buzz.  They were such a cute pair.

Russell and Luke thought trick-or-treat was the most exciting thing that had ever happened to them. 

Mark and I were pretty pumped about it too.  Plus our kids are satisfied with the 'one candy a day rule' which leaves lots of candy for us when they are not looking.